Description
Quench your thirst with this classic old-fashioned lemonade made from freshly squeezed lemon juice, sugar, and cold water. It’s a refreshing drink ideal for hot summer days, easy to prepare, and can be customized with your favorite flavors. Enjoy it chilled over ice, garnished with lemon slices and mint leaves for an extra touch!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup of freshly squeezed lemon juice (about 4–6 lemons)
- 1 cup of granulated sugar
- 4 cups of cold water
- Ice cubes
- Fresh lemon slices (for garnish)
- Fresh mint leaves (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Select fresh, ripe lemons that are firm and heavy for their size.
- Roll each lemon on the countertop with your palm to release the juices.
- Cut the lemons in half crosswise and extract the juice using a citrus juicer or handheld reamer, straining out any seeds. Aim for about 1 cup of lemon juice.
- In a small saucepan, combine 1 cup of granulated sugar with 1 cup of water.
- Heat over medium, stirring until the sugar dissolves (about 3-5 minutes). Do not boil.
- Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature. Store in the refrigerator for up to a week.
- In a large pitcher, combine the freshly squeezed lemon juice and cooled simple syrup.
- Add 4 cups of cold water, adjusting to taste for a stronger or lighter lemonade.
- Stir well and taste, adjusting sweetness if necessary.
- Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to chill, or serve immediately over ice.
- Pour the chilled lemonade over ice cubes in glasses and garnish with lemon slices and mint leaves if desired.
Notes
- For a fruity variation, muddle fresh berries at the bottom of the pitcher before adding the lemon juice and syrup.
- For a sparkling version, replace some or all of the water with sparkling water or club soda.
- To make a larger batch, multiply the ingredients accordingly.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes